Netbooks, desktop computers and landline phones could soon be a thing of the past, according to one IT expert.
Writing for IT Pro, expert Tom Brewster made predictions about the future of the IT industry, and the aspects of it that could soon become obsolete.
The specialist confirmed that they were just predictions, however, and may not actually come true.
"Some of these sectors may survive... Others will not. Pay a visit to the business IT graveyard in the not too distant future and you might see their names engraved on tombstones next to the likes of floppy disks and dial-up modems.''
Items such as netbooks could be "kicking the bucket" soon according to Brewster - and firewalls could soon vanish from the public eye.
He believes that the former have not taken off to such a level with the general public that they can survive, and that the latter are simply not strong or comprehensive enough to protect against all of the security threats facing companies in the 21st century.
Brewster's advice regarding firewalls may concern some companies, who feel they rely on these services to protect their precious data. However, they could consider working with a professional IT company to find a more efficient and reliable way of protecting their network management system from potential attacks.
Fellow industry professional, David Harley, agreed; insinuating firewalls were not enough: "At all levels, protection is much more about multi-layering nowadays that it is about single defensive layers."
Even Microsoft confirmed that one firewall wasn't enough, cited on Microsoft.com as saying both a hardware and software firewall should be installed, to provide more effective protection.
Brewster went on to add that in the long-term future, desktop computers could also become obsolete; citing the rise of smartphones and tablets for the humble desktop's demise. It is these gadgets that could also lead to the death of the landline, he added.
